Cashed-up union ready to shake, rattle and bankroll ‘independents’ to rock parliament

All cashed up and ready to shake, rattle and bankroll. Matthew Benns, The Daily Telegraph, yesterday:

Australia’s most militant left-wing union is polling blue ribbon Liberal seats … to find weak spots where it can dump support for Labor candidates and instead back strong independents … The CFMEU has confirmed it would consider bankrolling an independent candidate. “If it changes the numbers in the parliament then that’s the outcome we are after,” the source said. And that could happen with the blessing of Labor chiefs. Independent Kerryn Phelps’ … campaign … was run by Darrin Barnett, a former staffer for Labor PM Julia Gillard … Potential ­independent candidate Jane Caro said … “For many people it is a bit too far to vote Labor so a strong independent candidate would be ideal.”

Who’s calling the shots? Ewin Hannan, The Australian, December 11:

The Transport Workers Union is pushing federal Labor to extend industry-wide bargaining … to airlines, setting up a potential showdown with Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, who warned … (the) policy will send workplace relations back to the 1970s.

Representative democracy? Geoff Gilfillan, Parliament of Australia, October 15:

Union member share of all employees … has fallen from 51 per cent (in 1976) to 14 per cent (in 2016).

Russia or Macron the problem? Bloomberg, December 10:

France opened a probe into possible Russian interference behind the country’s Yellow Vest protests, after reports that social-media accounts linked to Moscow have increasingly targeted the movement … French ­security services are looking at the situation, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday.

Trump or Macron the problem? France24, December 9:

US President Donald Trump should not meddle in French affairs, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday after Trump criticised France in two tweets following riots in Paris … Le Drian said the French government does not comment on American politics and that this should work both ways. “I say to Donald Trump, and the President of the ­Republic tells him too: we do not take part in American debates, let us live our life in our country,” he said.

No comment, Macron? Ellen Whinnett, news.com.au, November 12:

(French President Emmanuel) Macron has used an Armistice Day speech to urge fellow leaders to reject nationalism, in an apparent dig at …Trump.

No comment, Macron? Eli Meixler, Time, November 7:

Macron is calling for the formation of a “real European army” to protect the continent “with respect to China, Russia and even the United States”.

No fossil fuels fuelling fossil? Kaya Burgess, The Times, December 11:

Neil Young … may withdraw from a London concert … unless Barclaycard is removed as a sponsor, describing (it) as a “fossil fuel-funding entity”.

Date rape song? Simantini Dey, news18.com, December 10:

Date-rape Song? Radio Stations ­Review Baby It’s Cold Outside in Light of #MeToo … (Lines) such as (‘What’s in my drink?’), ‘I ought to say no, no, no — Mind if I move in closer?’ and ‘I really can’t stay — Baby don’t hold out’ … sound … (like) date rape.

Song comes in from the cold. Nick Faris, The Province, December 11:

The “overwhelming” desire of CBC Music listeners to … hear Baby It’s Cold Outside has prompted (Canada’s) public broadcaster to resume playing the song after a week’s hiatus.